5 Weeks

5 weeks ago our lives changed forever. Our sweet Calvin was born into glory and we were ushered into a new life. A lot has happened in 5 weeks. Many different emotions have entered our hearts and many different thoughts have entered our minds. We’ve had good days and we’ve had bad days. We’ve had sadness and mourning, but also hope and faith in our sovereign God. Today was one of the rough days and still God was so faithful to us. He shows us His love in many ways and through many people. I bought Steven Curtis Chapman’s new cd recently. It made me cry the entire way home from the store. I’d like to share some of his lyrics which really resonate during this time.

I will proclaim it to the world

I will declare it to my heart

I will sing it when the sun is shining

I will scream it in the dark

You are faithful, You are faithful

When You give and when You take away

Even then still Your name is faithful

You are faithful

-From Steven Curtis Chapman’s ‘Faithful’

And, sometimes that’s how it is. We have to daily declare these truths of God to our hurting hearts. That God is faithful and that He is in control. We pray these things and hope in this truth. We know that we can only have this faith because of our hope in the work of Jesus Christ. God who became man and paid our penalty with his life and death. Praise our faithful God.

Calvin's Slideshow

Calvin Matthew Branch was born into glory on October 15 at 6:52am. He weighed 5 pounds 11 oz and was 19 inches long. He is loved and remembered by many.



Here is a wonderful slideshow featuring Christina Adam's photos. The song was customized for us by one of Christina's friends. We can't thank either of them enough for the effort put forth to make this special memory for us.

Please check out the link below to access the slideshow.

http://gracedesignsphotography.com/calvin/

Pre-Labor Hospital Pics

Calvin's 3D ultrasound

Brief Essay

Kim and I wrote this brief explanation of our circumstance and situation with Calvin. It first appeared on my facebook page and then on Christina Adam's blog.

At 21 weeks of our 1st pregnancy, our doctors alerted us to the presence of multiple developmental abnormalities with our growing son: Calvin. At 22 weeks it was confirmed that he has a chromosomal abnormality known as Trisomy 18. Trisomy 18 is typically fatal with only 10% of babies with this condition making it to 1 year old. Since our Calvin has some serious developmental abnormalities (severe heart defects, etc) he will most likely not live very long after birth. This has affected our lives unlike anything else, however we believe that God is in control of this situation and every situation.

Some people would say that our circumstances are not fair, and on a bad day we would agree, however, instead of looking at things in a negative light we are trying to view everything in light of God's sovereignty and yes, even in this difficult situation give Him praise. We can be thankful that we are able to conceive, we can be thankful for being able to feel Calvin move in the womb, for our special moments of bonding with him while he’s still here and most of all, we can be thankful that we have hope that through Jesus Christ we can be with Calvin again.

Calvin and his medical diagnosis is not a fluke or a mistake, he is our son and his life was planned down to the finest detail before the world was formed. God has formed him in the womb just like any other baby and his life has purpose. No matter how short his life, it will be full and God will use him in whatever way that He sees fit. Calvin will have the benefit of knowing that He was used of God in a mighty way through the lives of his mom and dad and for those around them. He has already taught us how to love and trust God and each other more deeply than we could have ever imagined. We know that this is happening for a purpose and although, we may never know what that purpose is (while on this earth at least) we know God works everything together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). We know that Calvin is a work of God and that his life is according to God’s purpose. And, we know that The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21).

Belly Pics

In August a fabulous photographer and family friend took pictures of us. She has posted a handful of those photos here:

http://gracedesignsphotography.blogspot.com/2009/08/belly-session-kim-and-josh.html

Here are a view of those for you viewing pleasure: